Chapter 223 Speak, now!

Chapter 223 Speak, now!
THIRD PERSON’S POV.

The words had barely left Trisha’s mouth before the boardroom descended into absolute chaos.

“What?”

“Kidnapped?”

“Call the police!”

“When did this happen?”

Chairs scraped violently against the marble floor as board members scrambled to their feet.

Some immediately reached for their phones, dialing the police.

Others called influential friends and government officials.

One elderly director was already demanding that every checkpoint leading out of Monterra be alerted.

Sarah could barely process what she was hearing.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

“What do you mean kidnapped?” she whispered, grabbing Trisha by both shoulders. “Start from the beginning. Tell me everything.”

Clara hurried to Trisha’s side, equally shaken.

“Where’s Oscar?”

“He’s…” Trisha swallowed. “He’s trying to find her.”

The room erupted into another wave of frantic voices.

Everyone panicked.

Everyone…

Except one man.

He quietly stepped away from the crowd while everyone’s attention remained fixed on Trisha.

Without attracting attention, he slipped into one of the adjoining executive offices and quietly shut the door behind him.

Only then did he pull out his phone.

He dialed a number from memory.

The call connected after the second ring.

“Hello?” Cassandra answered.

“Cassandra,” the man said in a low, urgent voice. “Our cover is about to be blown.”

Her heartbeat immediately quickened.

“What do you mean? What’s going on?”

“There’s no time to explain.”

His voice hardened.

“I need you to pack your things and leave Crowne Manor immediately.”

Silence.

Then, “Okay.”

“After you leave the manor, go straight to where Serena is being held.”

Cassandra’s breathing caught. But she stared to move in auto pilot, shoving random pieces of clothes into her suitcase .

“I’ll contact you again once I know our next move.”

“…Alright.” She nodded even though he couldn’t see her.

“I’ll be gone before Damian gets back.”

“Good.”

The man lowered his voice even further.

“And Cassandra…”

“Yes?”

“Do not make any mistakes.”

The call ended.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket before taking one slow breath.

When he stepped back into the boardroom… His face carried the same carefully crafted expression of concern everyone else wore.

~ ~ ~

Barely had Cassandra dropped the call did Damian arrive at Crowne Manor.

“CASSANDRA!”

His voice thundered through the mansion the moment he stepped through the front doors.

The sound echoed through every hallway.

And halfway down the staircase, Cassandra froze.

One hand remained wrapped around the handle of the suitcase she had been rolling downstairs.

Her heart momentarily stopped working

Damian wasn’t supposed to be home yet.

“Cassandra!” His footsteps grew louder.

A second later, he rounded the corner. The moment their eyes met, he saw the suitcase.

His expression darkened. "Get down here.”

His voice was terrifyingly calm.

“D-Damian…”

“What are you doing home so early?”

“I said…” His jaw clenched. "Get down here.”

Every step she took down the staircase felt heavier than the last. By the time she reached the bottom, her legs were trembling so badly she could barely stand.

She forced a nervous smile. “Is… is there a problem?”

Damian stopped directly in front of her. His eyes were cold. Colder than she’d ever seen them.

“What did you do to Serena?”

Her smile disappeared. "What do you mean? I didn’t do anything to Serena.”

She blinked. "Did something happen to her?”

“Don’t.” His voice came out low.

Dangerously low.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Cassandra. It's only going to make this worse.”

His eyes burned into hers. "Now tell me…”

“Where is my wife?”

Cassandra’s throat tightened. "I don’t know.” She forced a weak laugh. “And since when did Serena become your wife again?”

“I thought the two of you—” Her sentence never finished.

Damian grabbed her wrist so suddenly she gasped. He spun her around and slammed her against the nearest wall.

The impact knocked the air from her lungs.

One of Damian's hand pinned both of her wrists behind her back while the other pressed firmly against her shoulder, holding her in place.

Cassandra became genuinely afraid.
Damian had never laid a hand on a woman before.

Never.

“Damian…” she whimpered.

“I said…” His grip tightened until she cried out in pain. "Tell me where Serena is.”

“I don’t know!” She screams.

“You expect me to believe that?”

“I swear! I didn’t kidnap her!”

Damian twisted her arm just enough to make her scream. "so who did?"

Tears spilled freely down Cassandra’s cheeks. “I don’t know when they took her or where they’re keeping her!”

The words escaped before she could stop them.

Damian froze slowly…

Very slowly…

He loosened his grip just enough for her to breathe.

“They?” His voice was barely above a whisper.

His eyes narrowed at her. Who are ‘they’?”

Realization flashed across Cassandra’s face.

She had said too much, She immediately squeezed her eyes shut, wishing the last five minutes away.

“I can’t tell you.”

“You can’t…” Damian repeated. "Bold of you to think you have a choice here.”

“They’ll kill me if I say anything." Cassandra said as
her entire body shook.

Damian stepped closer until there was barely any space between them. "If you don’t tell me…”

His voice turned deadly. “I’ll kill you.”

Cassandra sobbed harder. “I’d rather you do.”

His brows furrowed. "What?”

“I’d rather you kill me.” She looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. “Atleast if you do it it'll be quick.”

Her voice cracked. “But if I betray They won’t just kill me. They’ll make me wish I was dead first.” A violent shiver ran through her body.

For several long secondS neither of them spoke.
Then Damian released her so suddenly she collapsed onto the floor.

He took two slow steps backward.

His face had become frighteningly unreadable.

A moment later, two security guards rushed into the foyer.

“Mr. Crowne?”

Damian never took his eyes off Cassandra.

“Lock her in the basement.”

The guards hesitated. "Sir?”

“I said…” His voice echoed through the mansion.“Lock her in the basement.”

“Yes, sir.” The guards moved toward Cassandra and she didn’t even resist.

She simply buried her face in her hands and cried.

Just before they dragged her away, Damian spoke one final time.

“If I don’t find Serena…” His voice was cold enough to send chills through everyone present.

“I promise you, you will pay for it with your life.”

The guards dragged Cassandra toward the basement as her sobs echoed through the house.

Damian remained exactly where he was. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Then, for the first time in years…
He prayed.

"Please Lord, Just let me find her."